As Typhoon Hagupit (“Ruby”) continues to batter the country, Smart Communications and Sun Cellular have ensured their users that they are prepared to provide quick response should communication services bog down.
In a recent Facebook post, Smart and Sun have reported that restoration and equipment personnel have already been deployed in Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and in Northern Mindanao in anticipation of damages. Generators and batteries have already been brought in, as well as equipment to provide fee call, text, and charging services for communities that need them.
For the time being, Smart and Sun encourage all mobile phone users to do the following:
“1. Fully charge cell phone batteries and ensure that you have airtime for at least 3 days.
“2. In the event of power outages, conserve battery power. Make judicious use of voice calls. Text messaging uses less power.
“3. Store emergency numbers in your cell phone — family members you can call for help, television and radio stations where you can get storm information, and responding relief agencies like the National Disaster Coordinating Council, local government units, local police, local chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross, etc. Keep a hard copy as well in case you run out of battery and need to use the numbers.
“4. Keep a battery-operated radio handy as well as spare batteries to make sure you stay informed about important news like evacuation warnings, storm updates, rescue developments, etc. in case electric and communication facilities shut down.
“5. Keep your cell phone dry. Wrap it in plastic or use cling-wrap for easy use.”
(Photo courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr Creative Commons)
